Hurricane or Spitfire cockpit for exhibition?

Dear all,
We are still working on our ‘War Effort’ exhibition at Coventry Transport Museum, telling the story of what the British Motor Industry built during World War Two. We have most things in place now, but we are still looking for a Hurricane cockpit.
Because of space restrictions we have to focus on a Hurricane. Also, we tell the Story of the flight shed at Longbridge (Austin) where Hurricanes were built. We will actually have a section of the geodetic roof on display (we rescued it when the building was demolished early 2012).
Any information on a Hurricane cockpit or fuselage section, that could be loaned for the exhibition, would be much appreciated.
The exhibition opens 11th July and closes 5th January 2014.
Thank you,
Chris

Dear all,

Thank you for the advise, positive comments and interest.

I hope you will be able to visit the display.

Much appreciated,

Chris

Coventry Beaufighters

Continuing from my previous thread there is of course the complete dismantled Beaufighter at East Fortune.

If the fuselage could be loaned many people would, I am sure, be glad of the opportunity to view it.

Locally if might get the answer to the question of how many fuselages did Standard build and was it whole fuselages or just noses?

Roger Smith.

Your father in law is a very talented man Brian. It was idle curiosity rather than a definite request as I don’t have room for anything thicker than an instrument panel in my whole house. But when I get a garage!
I’m afraid I’ve admitted defeat on the labels Jay. Mod plates and acid etched ones yes, but the embossed CBAF ones just don’t look right flat. Will email with more detail.

Brian,

Excellent work and would certainly look good in any museum.

Ian,
Downland aviation supplies castings of the gunsight mounting and clamp at reasonable cost for static only projects.
Any updates on the labels mate?

Regards

Jay

Is there a reasonably priced supplier for the gun sight mounting bracket?

Ian my father in law made it for this project on his lathe and mill from the original drawings (which there are a mistake in.)

He has been using the same technique to make some mounts for some gunsights that I have.

I can ask him to make another if needed.

Lovely work Brian. Your work more impressive than the rather spartan panel it holds. Is there a reasonably priced supplier for the gun sight mounting bracket?

I made a quarter cockpit last year for a collector to mount his Spitfire instrument panel in.

It is somewhere in the Highlands.

I would love to help but 1. I am miles away and 2. I would be worried leaving my cockpit out for so long

Hi Chris,

Welcome to the forum.

Can’t think of anything to suggest re a Hurricane or Spitfire cockpit but, as an alternative, what about a Lancaster front end/cockpit? Lancasters were also built at Castle Bromwich but this might have been post-Nuffield? I think there are two Lancaster noses at Brooklands Museum.

Another alternative might be the loan of the ‘spare’ Blenheim nose at Duxford – Rootes built Blenheims. They also built Halifaxes I think, is the IWM, Lambeth Halifax nose in temporary store at Duxford? (just thinking out loud now!!)

Going a little more out of the box, what about a Meteor centre section a number of which were built by Standard and S.S. Cars? There is at least one dismantled Meteor around at present (at Booker?).

Have you discounted the use of the Beaufighter cockpit at MAM?

Roger Smith.

Spit4Hire

Hi Chris,

I have a new full size Spitfire replica which may of interest to you for your display.
I also have a Spitfire cockpit section flight sim which may also be of interest to you.

If this is what your after feel free to drop me an email [email]spit4hire@gmail.com[/email] and we can have a chat.

Would love to help out if i can.

Regards
Neil

Ex Royal British Legion Replica Spitfire

I recall in 2009 seeing the replica Spitfire built by Ripon British legion
the plane is designed to be dismantled and transported on a trailer 🙂

I see from this article it was sold to a York Businessman Michael Oliver, chairman of Europe’s largest privately-owned valve manufacturer, Oliver Valves.

http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/8389543.Sale_of_replica_Spitfire_raises_thousands_of_pounds_for_Royal_British_Legion/

Might be worth contacting him and see if they will loan it to you ?

Coventry Transport Museum is a great visit well done to everyone

kind regards

Off on a tangent, i’ve always wondered why nobody commercially offers a GRP replica cockpit of such famous aircraft ? Yes, there has been the odd adventure into MDF kits, plus full size of course. Anybody ?